FOOD POVERTY IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND IT'S HAPPENING RIGHT HERE IN WEST MICHIGAN POCKETS OF COMMUNITIES WHERE FAMILIES JUST CANNOT MAKE ENDS MEET AND PUT HEALTHY FOOD ON THE TABLE

I'M STANDING IN THE COMMUNITY GARDENS WHERE FRESH PRODUCE IS BEING GROWN FOR NOT ONLY FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE BUT ALSO STARTING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE FOR STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY TODAY WE TRIED TO PUT IN FOR6 C13 THE PERFECT DAY AND I THINK WE HAVE RECEIVED THAT THIS IS NOT THE START OF A PROCESS THIS IS THE CONTINUATION OF A PROCESS CHAMPIONED BY THE TRIBE AND THE EXECUTIVE TEAM AT THE CASINO THIS GREENHOUSE PROJECT IS THE SHARED VISION

THIS IS A GARDEN SET UP TO GROW VEGETABLES AND FRUITS FOR THE TRIBAL PEOPLE HERE AT THE RESERVATION UP UNTIL NOW THIS GROUND ON THE SIDE HASN'T BEEN USED WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND THE GARDEN AND MAKE IT BIGGER WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING IN THEIR OWN THE HIVES

THERE WE PLAN TO PUT THE GREEN HOUSES AN GROW HYDROPONICALLY AND OFTEN CHRONICALLY FOR NOT ONLY THE LOCAL TRIBE OF THE LOCAL PEOPLE AND THE LOCAL SCHOOLS THEN WE WOULD LIKE TO USE THAT AS AN EDUCATIONAL BASE WE STARTED LOOKING AT LUNCH PROGRAMS AS A WHOLE AND TRIED TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE COULD ENHANCE THAT SOME OF IT CAME FROM TEACHERS NOT GETTING RAISES AND EVAN OR EIGHT YEARS A LOT OF IT HAD TO DO WITH KIDS THAT COULDN'T AFFORD THEIR LUNCHES

WE THOUGHT IT WOULD YOU REALLY GOOD IDEA TO PUT TOGETHER A SALAD BAR FOR NO COST TO THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TRANSPORTED TO THE SCHOOL AND BE ABLE TO OFFER THAT AS AN AMENITY OR A THANK YOU TO THE TEACHERS AND TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME NUTRITIONAL MEALS FOR THE STUDENTS AT NO COST TO THEM IT HAS TAKEN A COUPLE YEARS TO LIKE A PHOENIX RISING AGAIN THROUGH THE VOLUNTEERS OF OUR TRIBAL MEMBERS AND GOOD FORESIGHT AND EXPERTISE TO BECOMING A COMMUNITY GARDEN AND EXPANDING ADEQUATE REALLY GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITY

THE GARDENS ARE JUST O OF THE MANY WAYS FIRE KEEPERS CASINO HOTEL AND THEIR OWNERS ARE GIVING BACK TO COMMUNITY TO FIND OUT MORE WAYS THEY ARE POSITIVELY IMPACTING WEST